Ronnie Brewer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- When Florida scores 80 points the past three seasons, it has been good news for the Gators. Until Saturday. Arkansas beat the 10th-ranked Gators 85-81 in overtime at Walton Arena to end a streak of 40 games in which Florida had won when scoring 80 or more points. The last time Florida had scored 80 points and lost was on March 4, 2003, when Georgia beat the Gators 82-81 at Athens. "It was a back-and-forth basketball game," Florida Coach Billy Donovan said. "Both teams had a chance to win, but give Arkansas credit.

About the only definitive result from a very fluid day is that, as expected, Ronnie Brewer won't play for the Bulls next season at his $4.37 million team option and C.J. Watson also won't be back at his $3.2 million salary. Tuesday's deadline to pick up those options came and went, although Brewer said general manager Gar Forman told his agent he might be re-signed at a reduced salary. "I will definitely test the market, though," Brewer said in a phone interview from his basketball camp in Arkansas.

Ronnie Brewer will never have that natural sweet-looking shot that made his father so attractive to the NBA when he left the University of Arkansas almost 30 years ago. He is just a better athlete. Brewer, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound shooting guard, wore the same No. 10 at Arkansas that his father did before him, but rarely have they been compared. Their shots are so radically different. The elder Ron Brewer, who was the No. 7 pick of the 1978 NBA draft, had a purity and a beauty to his stroke.

So, I'm reading that Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer will have to put up another combined game of 40-plus points and 20-plus rebounds if the Bulls are going to win Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday night to force a deciding game at home. Yes. Well. Does that Deng-Boozer 40-20 club have a lot of moments the last two seasons, specifically in the playoffs? You keep thinking about that while I move on to the idea that all the pressure is on the 76ers to win Game 6 at home.

DENVER NUGGETS Denver didn't have a first-round pick. It used its second-rounder on Cal F Leon Powe, who may be too undersized to make it in the NBA. The picks Rd., pick, player School Ht. / Wt. 2 / 49th. F Leon Powe California 6-7 / 245 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Minnesota hopes it got some help for Kevin Garnett with the acquisition of Randy Foye. The Timberwolves drafted Brandon Roy, then sent him to Portland for Foye. Roy may have been the most well-rounded player in the draft. He is solid on both ends of the court, but his outside shot could use a bit of work.

Florida at Arkansas TIME: 2 p.m. TV: Ch. 27 (WRDQ). RADIO: 540 AM (WFLF) RECORDS: UF 22-3 overall, 8-3 in SEC; Arkansas 16-8, 5-6. THE BUZZ: Two up, two down on the Gators' arduous five-game stretch that will help determine where they will be seeded in the NCAA Tournament. But this test for UF combines one of the conference's toughest environments -- Arkansas' Bud Walton Arena -- with two of its toughest players to guard: F Ronnie Brewer (a league-leading 18.6 ppg) and G Jonathon Modica (15.5 ppg)

The Orlando Magic took a closer look Thursday at players who should be available if they make the No. 11 pick as expected in the NBA draft this month. Yet their sights still are set higher. "I'm comfortable at 11, but we're trying to get up a couple picks ahead of us,'' said Magic General Manager Otis Smith. "It's a realistic goal. There are teams trying to move down, so I wouldn't be surprised if we get in there.'' Smith said the Magic would like to pick in the 6-7-8 range -- spots currently held by the Timberwolves, Celtics and Rockets -- which would create a different set of available players.

TORONTO — Luol Deng had 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Bulls rallied in the fourth quarter to down the Raptors 94-82 on Wednesday night at Air Canada Centre. Playing their fifth straight game without Derrick Rose because of a strained groin, the Bulls also got 15 points from C.J. Watson , 13 from John Lucas III and 12 from Ronnie Brewer . Joakim Noah added eight points, eight rebounds and five assists in the Bulls' third straight win. "All year our model has just been to find a way to win," Deng said.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Asked directly if his injured groin will allow him to play at any point in the Bulls ' final 12 regular-season games, Derrick Rose sighed. "I think so," he said. "It's up to me, so, yeah, I think I am. " During a pregame interview with ESPN 's Ric Bucher on Sunday, Rose hinted at returning next week. And the Bulls' injury carousel keeps spinning. Along those lines, coach Tom Thibodeau more emphatically stated he's the one deciding to continue holding Richard Hamilton out. Hamilton endured a rigorous three-on-three session at Saturday's practice and said he's ready to return from his sprained right shoulder but has no issue with Thibodeau's decision.

The journey began with an improbable comeback victory — and one goal in mind — against the Lakers on Christmas Day in Los Angeles. One chapter of it concluded Thursday night at the United Center where, before the Bulls ' 107-75 victory over the Cavaliers, Brian Scalabrine reminded all of that goal. "Banner No. 7," Scalabrine said in a rousing pregame speech thanking fans. The next chapter of this condensed, lockout-shortened season begins at noon Saturday against the 76ers, who dropped to the eighth spot and thus a first-round playoff matchup against the Bulls after losing to the Pistons.

Late Wednesday in Indianapolis, coach Tom Thibodeau said Derrick Rose needed to play. On Thursday, Thibodeau said Rose needed to rest. And the nutty, lockout-shortened season continues to offer twists and turns. In a nod to the Bulls finishing back-to-back games with their first-round playoff series starting Saturday, the Bulls decided to sit Rose, Luol Deng and Kyle Korver on Thursday against the Cavaliers in the regular-season finale at the United Center . Deng has played through a torn ligament in his left wrist.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Asked directly if his injured groin will allow him to play at any point in the Bulls ' final 12 regular-season games, Derrick Rose sighed. "I think so," he said. "It's up to me, so, yeah, I think I am. " During a pregame interview with ESPN 's Ric Bucher on Sunday, Rose hinted at returning next week. And the Bulls' injury carousel keeps spinning. Along those lines, coach Tom Thibodeau more emphatically stated he's the one deciding to continue holding Richard Hamilton out. Hamilton endured a rigorous three-on-three session at Saturday's practice and said he's ready to return from his sprained right shoulder but has no issue with Thibodeau's decision.

TORONTO — Luol Deng had 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Bulls rallied in the fourth quarter to down the Raptors 94-82 on Wednesday night at Air Canada Centre. Playing their fifth straight game without Derrick Rose because of a strained groin, the Bulls also got 15 points from C.J. Watson , 13 from John Lucas III and 12 from Ronnie Brewer . Joakim Noah added eight points, eight rebounds and five assists in the Bulls' third straight win. "All year our model has just been to find a way to win," Deng said.

Karl Malone and John Stockton never had a start like this. While the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns battle it out for the NBA's most disappointing team, the Utah Jazz are a runaway at the other end of the spectrum. Not even veteran coach Jerry Sloan -- who has seen and done it all in his career -- envisioned this kind of beginning. The Jazz were 12-1 and riding an eight-game winning streak before Saturday night's loss to the Golden State Warriors. Despite that setback, it's the most surprisingly pleasant start for anyone in many years.

The journey began with an improbable comeback victory — and one goal in mind — against the Lakers on Christmas Day in Los Angeles. One chapter of it concluded Thursday night at the United Center where, before the Bulls ' 107-75 victory over the Cavaliers, Brian Scalabrine reminded all of that goal. "Banner No. 7," Scalabrine said in a rousing pregame speech thanking fans. The next chapter of this condensed, lockout-shortened season begins at noon Saturday against the 76ers, who dropped to the eighth spot and thus a first-round playoff matchup against the Bulls after losing to the Pistons.

Late Wednesday in Indianapolis, coach Tom Thibodeau said Derrick Rose needed to play. On Thursday, Thibodeau said Rose needed to rest. And the nutty, lockout-shortened season continues to offer twists and turns. In a nod to the Bulls finishing back-to-back games with their first-round playoff series starting Saturday, the Bulls decided to sit Rose, Luol Deng and Kyle Korver on Thursday against the Cavaliers in the regular-season finale at the United Center . Deng has played through a torn ligament in his left wrist.

DENVER NUGGETS Denver didn't have a first-round pick. It used its second-rounder on Cal F Leon Powe, who may be too undersized to make it in the NBA. The picks Rd., pick, player School Ht. / Wt. 2 / 49th. F Leon Powe California 6-7 / 245 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Minnesota hopes it got some help for Kevin Garnett with the acquisition of Randy Foye. The Timberwolves drafted Brandon Roy, then sent him to Portland for Foye. Roy may have been the most well-rounded player in the draft. He is solid on both ends of the court, but his outside shot could use a bit of work.

Ronnie Brewer will never have that natural sweet-looking shot that made his father so attractive to the NBA when he left the University of Arkansas almost 30 years ago. He is just a better athlete. Brewer, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound shooting guard, wore the same No. 10 at Arkansas that his father did before him, but rarely have they been compared. Their shots are so radically different. The elder Ron Brewer, who was the No. 7 pick of the 1978 NBA draft, had a purity and a beauty to his stroke.